DECEMBER 2010 Level 4

DECEMBER 2010 Level 4

DECEMBER BIBLE READINGS DATE BOOK VERSE 1 Wed 2 Thur 3 Fri 4 Sat 5 Sun 6 Mon 7 Tue 8 Wed 9 Thur 10 Fri 11 Sat 12 Sun 13 Mon 14 Tue 15 Wed 16 Thur 17 Fri 18 Sat 19 Sun 20 Mon 21 Tue 22 Wed 23 Thur 24 Fri 25 Sat 26 Sun 27 Mon 28 Tue 29 Wed 30 Thur 31 Fri 1 Sat 2 Sun 3 Mon 4 Tue 5 Wed 6 Thur 7 Fri 8 Sat 9 Sun 10 Mon 11 Tue 12 Wed 13 Thur 14 Fri 15 Sat 16 Sun 17 Mon 18 Tue 19 Wed 20 Thur 21 Fri 22 Sat 23 Sun 24 Mon 25 Tue 26 Wed 27 Thur 28 Fri 29 Sat 30 Sun 31 Mon 1 Cor. 9:24-27 1 Cor. 10:12-13 1 Cor. 12:1-11 1 Cor. 12:12-20 1 Cor. 12:21-31 1 Cor. 13:1-3 1 Cor. 13:4-7 1 Cor. 13:8-13 1 Cor. 15:1-11 1 Cor. 15:12-19 1 Cor. 15:51-58 1 Cor. 16:1-9 Micah 1:1-7, 2:3-4 Micah 4:6-13 Micah 5:2-5 Luke 1:1-4 Luke 1:5-17 Luke 1:18-25 Luke 1:26-33 Luke 1:34-38 Luke 1:39-45 Luke 1:46-56 Luke 1:57-66 Luke 1:67-80 Luke 2:1-7 Luke 2:8-20 Luke 2:21-31 Luke 2:41-52 Luke 3:1-6 Luke 3:7-14 Luke 3:15-18 JANUARY BIBLE READINGS DATE BOOK VERSE Luke 3:21-22 Luke 4:1-13 John 1:19-28 John 1:29-34 John 1:35-42 John 1:43-51 John 2:1-12 John 2:13-25 John 3:1-8 John 3:9-15 John 3:16-21 John 3:22-30 John 3:31-36 Joel 1:1-12 Joel 2:12-17 Joel 2:18-20, 28-32 Joel 3: 16-21 Song of Songs 1:15-2:2 Song of Songs 2:14-3:4 Song of Songs 4:1-7 Song of Songs 4:8-11 Song of Songs 4:12-16 Song of Songs 8:5-7 Song of Songs 8:8-14 Luke 4:16-22 Luke 4:23-30 Luke 4:31-37 Luke 4:38-44 Luke 5:1-11 Luke 5:12-16 Luke 5:17-26 1 Make a time when you can read the Bible each day 3 Get your Bible and a pen or pencil 5 Read today s Bible reading Get to Grips WITH GOD S WORD 2 Find a place where you can be quiet and think 4 Ask God to help you understand what you read 6 MEMORY VERSES Pray about what you have read and learned Week 1 But you Bethlehem Ephrathah... out of you will come for Me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from... ancient times. Micah 5:2 Week 2 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 Week 3 On coming to the house, they saw The Child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped Him. Matthew 2:11 Week 4 And Mary said, My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour. Luke 1:46-47 Prepared and published by PSSM Bible Discovery Trust: 888 New North Road, Mt. Albert, Auckland 1025, New Zealand. Email: info@biblediscovery.org.nz. Phone: 064-09-8461776. Permission must be sought before reproducing anything.

Promises Read Luke 1:26-56 Key Verse: But you Bethlehem Ephrathah... out of you will come for Me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from... ancient times. Micah 5:2 Extra: Find some promises in the Bible that God made about the coming Saviour. Level 4 lesson 41 Christmas is a time when children often hope to receive that special present they ve been promised; a new bike, watch, clothes, or whatever it may be. Sometimes, for various reasons, parents fail to keep their promises. At Christmas though, we especially remember how God kept His promise by sending a wonderful gift to the world His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ! At the beginning of the New Testament, the Romans ruled over Israel and the Jews weren t happy about it! Many waited hopefully for that great day when God s promised Messiah (the Christ) would be their new King, and set them free from the Romans. They longed for this day, just as we often long for Christmas Day to come. I can t wait for tomorrow to come! we say. Have you ever felt like that? The people of Israel knew quite a lot about God s promise to send The Messiah, as they had read the prophecies God had given them in the Old Testament. For example, they knew He would be born in Bethlehem, and that He would be a prophet, a priest, and a King. They knew that He would do wonderful miracles. Unfortunately, they seemed to ignore the fact that God s Word also told them that this One must give His life to save His people from their sins (see Isaiah 53)! Every Jewish mother in Israel hoped that she might be the mother of this wonderful child. Yet when the time came for God to fulfil His promise, it was to a humble, young girl that He chose. He sent Gabriel the angel to her, and Mary was at first frightened when he suddenly appeared. But her fear changed to wonder when she heard Gabriel s message. She was to have a baby! Yet how could she have a baby when she was not yet married to Joseph? The angel explained that Joseph would not be the father of this baby. God the Holy Spirit would cause this baby to be born, so that He would be the HOLY SON OF GOD! This was the Messiah God had promised, whom all God s people had been waiting so long for! What a tremendous honour for Mary to be chosen to be the mother of the promised Saviour. She was so happy! As she thought about it, she sang a beautiful song of praise to God. You can read what she sang often called Mary s Magnificat in Luke 1:46-56. Yet even Mary, who was so honoured by God, realised her sin and her own need of a Saviour (v47). The Lord Jesus Christ came to save us from our sins, just as God had promised. Let s praise God this Christmas for the gift of His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the World! QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS AND ANSWERS 1. What promises had God made many times in the Old Testament? 2. Name four things that the Jews knew about the promised Messiah 3. Who did Gabriel say Mary s baby would be? 4. What did Mary realise about herself, and her own need? 5. What was the purpose of Christ s coming? O E E M E I My Name is... Age...

Problems Read Luke 2:1-20 and Matthew 1:18-25 Key Verse: For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich 2 Corinthians 8:9 Extra: Explain in your own words he meaning of the Key Verse. Level 4 lesson 42 Around the time Jesus was to be born, Caesar Augustus, the Roman Emperor, sent word to King Herod that he was to take a Census of the Jews. In a Census, everyone s name, age, address, and family details are recorded. Mary and Joseph lived in Nazareth where Joseph was a carpenter. However, Roman law for the Census required every man to return to the town where their grandfather was born, and have their details recorded there. Joseph was descended from the family of the great King David, who was born in Bethlehem. This meant that just when Jesus was about to be born, Joseph and Mary had to travel there. Although this was inconvenient for them, God was in control. He was simply working things out to fulfil Bible prophecies, which clearly said that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). When Joseph and Mary arrived they found the town packed with people. Every lodging-house seemed full. If they had been wealthy they may have found somewhere to stay, but as it was, no one seemed to want them. Mary s first baby was about to be born, and even the cheapest inn in town had no room for them. Finally, one innkeeper took pity on Mary, and offered them shelter in a stable. This would have been dark, cold, damp, and probably dirty. No pretty cot in which to lay her precious, first-born baby; just an animal s manger (feed bin) lined with hay! God s Son, the Creator of the Universe, was born into this world to absolute poverty. What incredible humility! At that moment outside Bethlehem, some shepherds were watching over their flocks of sheep during the night, just as King David had done centuries before. Suddenly, they were terrified by a glorious light, as a shining angel appeared before their eyes! Don t be afraid! he told them. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. Then a whole choir of angels appeared, filling the sky with their singing, Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth, peace and goodwill to men. What an amazing sight! The shepherds could hardly believe their eyes. Then as quickly as they had appeared, the angels were gone. Still almost breathless in awe and astonishment, the shepherds set out at once to find the child. We read, And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. We read too, that they immediately worshipped Him the long awaited Messiah. How wonderful to think that this babe lying there in the hay was the holy, SON of GOD, our Saviour! He left the glory and splendour of His heavenly home to come to this sin-sick world where there was no room for Him. Our memory verse reminds us though, that He was willing to become poor, so that we might become rich. He came in order to share the riches of His love and salvation with poor sinful people like us. What great love and sacrifice! There was no room for Him in the inn, but is there room for Him in your heart this Christmas? Can you say the simple words of this little chorus and really mean it? Come to my heart Lord Jesus, There is room in my heart for you! QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 1. What brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem? 2. What happened when they could find no place to stay? 3. Describe who the child Jesus really was. 4. What was happening in the fields outside Bethlehem? 5. Why did the Lord Jesus come to this world? Mary and Joseph were offered in a.

Presents Read Matthew 2:1-15 and John 3:16-21 Key Verse: On coming to the house, they saw The Child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped Him. 1 John 1:7 ExExtra: Why do you think people give gifts at Christmas? Level 4 lesson 43 Christmas morning is a happy time! All the presents are opened and there are many surprises. Of course, sometimes we know all along what is coming, but it s still great to finally get it, isn t it! Receiving presents is fun that s for sure; however, we can easily become selfish and forget about others if we only think about what we are getting. Jesus said it was better for us to give than to receive! That seems strange doesn t it? But it s true you try it! Presents also can show how generous or mean the giver is too! When God gave the Lord Jesus as the gift of His love, He gave us the most generous gift of all! The story we read in Matthew 2 is one that speaks of two-way giving. The Wise Men in the story had been alerted by the appearance of a bright star that a great King had been born. They left their home in the East to follow the star, seeking the King of the Jews. They took with them some very precious gifts to give in worship to this great King. Finally, they came to the place where Jesus was. There, they bowed in worship and offered their gifts to Him. First, we read, they gave gold. We all know how valuable gold is! Gold was a gift for a King. This showed that they realised that even though Jesus was only a little baby, He was truly the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. How suitable this gift was! Then we read they offered Him frankincense. This was precious, sweet-smelling incense, offered by priests in their sacrifices. As the Lord Jesus grew up, some men hated Him, despised Him, and saw no beauty in Him at all. We think of the lovely life of the Lord Jesus though, and remember that it pleased God very much. It was just like that incense going up to God. Sinful men hated the Lord Jesus because He was so good and perfect, and showed up their sinful lives; but God loved Him and was well pleased with Him. Myrrh was something bitter and yet it was sweetsmelling. This pictured the Lord s life in a special way, for as He grew up He knew what it was to suffer. He was despised and rejected by men. His life was perfect and beautiful yet He knew the bitterness of sorrow and suffering, even dying for you and I on Calvary s cruel cross! I wonder if the Wise men realised as they laid their gifts at Jesus feet, that they were looking at God s greatest gift to men? John 3:16 tells us, For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. What gift on Earth could ever truly compare to that?! They were ready to give to Him, but God had already given to them (and us) the greatest gift! Of all the presents we will ever receive at Christmastime, there is none as wonderful as this. Have you received Him yourself? Have you thanked God for His grace and kindness in sending Jesus to save you from your sins? This is the true meaning of Christmas. We remember God s perfect gift. We cannot give costly gifts like the Wise men, but we can give our hearts and lives to Jesus! QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 1. What did the star tell the wise men about the child they were seeking? 2. Why did sinful men hate the Lord Jesus so much? 3. What does the gift of myrrh, that the men brought, remind us about the Lord Jesus? 4. What verse from this study tells us about God s great gift to us? 5. What is the best gift that we can give to the Lord Jesus Christ? If you don t understand please ask us. His l was p and b, yet He knew the b of s w and s g.

Praise Read Luke 1:46-56; 2:8-14; and 2:25-32 Key Verse: And Mary said, My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour. Luke 1:46-47 Extra: Try writing a song or poem of praise to God. Level 4 lesson 44 The message of Christmas is a message of JOY! We always associate singing and rejoicing with it. It is wonderful at this time of year to hear the bells ringing, to listen to carol singing, and to feel the atmosphere of joy all around. Sadly, some Christmas celebrations are not the right kind, and they certainly do not bring lasting satisfaction. So many people use this time of the year as merely an excuse for excess and foolishness. They eat and drink too much, which often robs Christmas of its true joy. The joy of the coming of Christ into the world was very real. Indeed, Heaven and Earth joined together to announce the Good News of His birth, with a heavenly choir of angels singing His praises. What an amazing experience for the shepherds, to hear that great chorus of the angels! Imagine as they watched their sheep, the silence of the night broken by an angelic choir singing, Glory to God in the highest and on Earth peace, good will toward men! Look too, at the message of joy the angels gave to the world when Christ was born. Today in the town of David, a Saviour has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord! Here are three great reasons for praising God. 1. CHRIST was born: God was showing His love for people. Christ was sent into the world to bring God s love and mercy to us. 2. The SAVIOUR was given: The Lord Jesus came to save us from God s righteous punishment of our sin. Bethlehem began the pathway that led to Calvary s Cross, where Jesus died in our place! 3. This was GOOD NEWS: It has been spreading ever since. People everywhere can now experience God s forgiveness for their sin! Praise God that in a world of gloom and misery, the Christmas message still brings joy and gladness! All the praise for the joyous coming of Christ went to God Himself. Just a small, helpless baby lying in a manger in a stable, yet the highest praise of heaven was given to God because of Him. It s true that if you experience in your life how wonderful the Lord Jesus is, you too will always be able to find cause for thanksgiving and praise to God. Others too, praised God for the fact that Jesus was born. Zacharias (the father of John the Baptist who was the forerunner of Jesus) broke out in praise when he realised that a much greater person than his son John was coming. Mary sang that wonderful song we call the Magnificat even before her Son was born. She was so full of praise to God she sang, My soul praises the Lord! Then, later on, when Simeon held baby Jesus in his arms, he too sang a song of praise to God because, as he said, My eyes have seen Your salvation! All these different people sang their songs of praise to God. I wonder this Christmas, will YOU find time to think about the arrival of Jesus Christ into the world, and will YOU praise God for Him? To know the Christ of Christmas as YOUR Saviour is true joy! How sad if among all the joys we have, we know nothing of this joy. Christmas without Christ is very empty indeed. Above all this Christmas, make sure you find time to thank and praise God for the Lord Jesus Christ, the greatest gift of all! QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 1. What message of joy did the angels sing? 2. Name two people who rejoiced at the birth of Christ. 3. What did Simeon say as he held the Lord Jesus in his arms? 4. Complete this sentence. 5. Do you know Jesus as your own Saviour? How? Christmas without C would be very e indeed. THERE ARE NO LESSONS IN JANUARY. THE NEXT LESSONS WILL BE SENT IN FEBRUARY.

ave you ever walked through a paddock and noticed a wonderful patch of H flowering daisies. Sometimes the ground seems to be carpeted with them, and they all open so beautifully. The daisy is one of those flowers which open their petals to the sun when it rises in the morning, and closes them at sunset. On a sunny day, you will find all the daisies open, but in the evening they will be closed again. In this way the appearance of the paddock changes completely from a beautiful daisy carpet in the morning to a green field in the evening. A botanist proved that daisies will only open when the sunlight reaches them, though it used to be thought they would open when the right time came. One morning he got up early before the sunrise and went to the field where there was a fine crop of daisies. He put a bucket over a clump of them. At midday he again went to the field. Around the bucket the daisies were all open, but on lifting the bucket he found that everyone of those underneath had closed petals. No sunlight had got at them, so not one of them had opened. You see the daisy needs the sunlight. When walking in long grass, you will notice that flowers growing there usually have long stems, so that the blossom is visible. If you find a dandelion or other flower growing in short grass it will not have so long a stem. The longer the grass, the longer the stem. That is a wonderful provision of Nature for God designed them that way. It enables the flower to push right up, so that the grass will not choke it or keep the sunlight from it, because the sunlight is necessary to its life. Just as the sunlight is absolutely necessary to the daisy for it to open its petals, or to the dandelion if it is to blossom freely. We too need the sunshine of God s love if we are to live our lives to their full potential. Jesus Christ is the Light of the world and He is the one who brings God s love to us. God s Light and Love is necessary if our lives are to expand and grow and become beautiful. When God s love shines in our lives they will open, just like the daisy, and the lovely features of character that are Christ-like will show themselves in us. If we allow the clouds of sin and bad habits to come between us and that sunshine, then our hearts will remain closed, cold and unresponsive, and not at all beautiful. Let us walk in the light of the Lord, Isaiah 2:5, and in that light we will find life. W. S. Herbert Wylie - adapted

Jonathan was a young man who craved for freedom. To him freedom meant no laws, no supervisors and no punishments. According to him, there was no freedom at home and no freedom at school. There were restrictions everywhere. One fine morning he decided to leave his home in the suburbs and go to the city to enjoy the freedom that he felt was his due. He packed up a few belongings and with the purse of money that he had stolen from his father, he set out. For sometime everything went well. Soon reports appeared in the papers of a daring and dangerous criminal in the city. People feared to walk the streets after sundown as looting, beating and killing was rampant. Finally the police nabbed the man behind the crimes. It was none other than Jonathan who desired total freedom and ended committing the worst crimes a man could ever get involved in. He had become a slave to sin and Satan. We were made to live in fellowship with our Creator. God gave us a will by which we could choose to do good or evil. But the sad part is that we often prefer to do evil rather than good. The first man Adam chose to disobey God and through that single choice all mankind inherited the capacity to sin. The Bible says: By one man sin entered into the world and death by sin (Romans 5:12). We continue to make choices every day of our life. Our life itself is the sum total of the choices we makes. We can choose to live in sin or in purity. Your life does not cease with death. Death is the door to eternity. Where you will spend eternity will depend on a choice you make, not after death,but while you are still alive, here on earth. The Lord Jesus said, Broad is the way to destruction and narrow is the path to life. Which way will you choose? Jesus Christ came to open the way of salvation; He came to offer true freedom from the enslavement of sin. By one man Adam, all mankind became sinners. By one man Jesus Christ all mankind can become saints. By one man s disobedience all were made sinners, but by one man (Jesus Christ s) obedience, many will be made righteous. God in His mercy and love sent Jesus His son to die for the sins of the world (John 3:16), By His death He paid the penalty of our sin. He died to redeem us from the slavery of sin. By trusting Him today you can enjoy the abundant life that He promises. He gives us freedom not only from the penalty of sin but also from the power of sin in our daily lives. He will come again one day to free us from the very presence of sin. Why don t you trust Him today and ask Him to forgive your sins? Jesus invites you to a freedom that no one else can give!? Jesus said, Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed (John 8:34-36). By Betty Kurian Courtesy Facts for Faith magazine Christmas greetings and love to you and your family from all of us at PSSM. We pray that all of you will know God s peace and joy, both now and throughout the year. All glory to Jesus, begotten of God The great I AM is He.Creator, sustainer - but wonder of all, The Lamb of Calvary. John W. Peterson TELL A FRIEND! Do you enjoy receiving your FREE Bible Discovery lessons each month? Do you like reading Discovery magazine? Maybe your friends would like to get them too. It would mean they could learn about God and how to know Him. Why not ask them, and then fill in their details below. Or email us at enrol@biblediscovery.org.nz We ll make sure they receive their own copy next month. Name:... Age:... Birthdate:... Address:.......